Free The Weather Girl by Amy Vastine Page A

fact, I think she hates me. All she wants is Heidi.”
    Travis had to stop him right there. He shut the door and joined his brother in the living room. “You have a beautiful wife and an adorable baby girl. Am I really supposed to feel bad for you?”
    Conner had already made himself comfortable on the black leather couch, stretched out as if it were some kind of therapy session. “I told Heidi you called me and needed someone to help move some furniture. Please let me stay here. Please,” he whined.
    Travis took pity on him and let him stay. His brother was a good example of what life after football was for most. He played ball at LSU but wasn’t destined to go any further than that. He met Heidi at school and married her as soon as they graduated. They moved back to Texas, and Conner went to work for their dad’s insurance company, opening an office in Abilene.
    Conner lived a modest life and still wore his state championship ring. Like many former Texas high-school football players, he talked about that time in his life as if it was the glory days. Travis hated to think like that. He didn’t want to feel as though his best years had come and gone. He wanted to believe there was more.
    Conner helped hang some pictures and move some furniture around so he wasn’t completely lying to his wife. “Best thing about Brooke breaking off the engagement? You got to keep all your stuff.” Conner picked up the remote for the large flat-screen TV that hung on the wall. “I’m pretty sure that if Heidi ever leaves me, she’ll take everything with her.”
    “Ah yes, the upside to having the woman you thought you were in love with dump you. Thanks for pointing that out and for bringing her up. I appreciate that.” Travis handed him a beer and took a sip of his own before sitting down.
    “Brother, you are so better off. Like I said, better you saw her true colors before you made the full commitment.”
    As if saying “I do” would have made him feel more committed. He’d planned on spending the rest of his life with Brooke. He’d imagined growing old with her. Of course, things would have been worse if they had gotten married. Travis knew he had avoided making the biggest mistake of his life now that Brooke’s true intentions were revealed, but it still stung to be rejected, to be told you weren’t good enough because you weren’t a quarterback anymore.
    Conner’s phone beeped, eliciting a pathetic groan from him. He pulled it out of his pocket and checked the screen. “Give me a reason I need to hang out here longer. Quick.”
    “Sorry, I have to go to Red Bud Park for the Balloon Festival and sign autographs. I can’t hide you all day.”
    “Balloon Festival and autographs?”
    “Hot-air balloons. They fly a whole bunch of them for charity or something. And yes, people still want my autograph,” Travis said sourly.
    “Of course people want your autograph. You’re Travis Lockwood. I bet the girls still throw themselves at you.” There was a hint of jealousy in his tone.
    Travis let it slide, knowing it was never easy for Conner to be the older brother of the Sweetwater superstar quarterback. Things had been always easier for Travis growing up. Everyone lavished attention and praise on him, while Conner was often overlooked. When they were younger, there was some resentment on Conner’s part. Their father invested much more time, energy and money into Travis. But as they got older, Conner found it in his heart to be more supportive than envious. He had always been there for his younger brother, cheering him on and sharing in his spoils. He was a good man who was struggling in this new role of being a father.
    “Maybe my car isn’t working and I need you to drive me over there,” Travis offered.
    An appreciative smile spread across Conner’s face as he texted Heidi. The two men headed over to Red Bud Park in Conner’s car, in case anyone saw them. The field was littered with almost a dozen hot-air